OREM, Utah – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team fell 61-54 to Utah Valley University (UVU) on Thursday at the UCCU Center.
 
Redshirt sophomore Ashlei Lopez led UTRGV (10-14, 5-6 WAC) with 12 points while adding six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Senior Megan Johnsonadded 11 points with six rebounds.
 
Jordan Holland led UVU (9-13, 6-4 WAC) with 18 points with four rebounds while Maria Carvalhoadded 13 points and eight rebounds. Josie Williams chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds. 
 
UVU jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter after a jumper by Williams. UTRGV answered back with a 7-0 run after a layup by Lopez, three-pointer by redshirt junior Zhane Templeton,and a layup from junior Iva Belosevicgot them within 10-9 with 4:07 left in the quarter. A three-pointer by Eve Braslisclosed out the quarter with UVU leading 18-12.
 
A layup by Williams pushed UVU's lead to 20-12 but the Vaqueros put together a 9-0 run that started with a three-pointer by Johnson and capped by a jumper by junior Valeria Tapiathat gave UTRGV the 23-22 lead with 5:54 left in the half. Both teams went back-and-forth the rest of the quarter as UVU held the 30-28 lead at the half. 
 
UTRGV got rolling in the third quarter as graduate student Desirea Buergegot the scoring started with a three-pointer with Johnson adding one of her giving them the 34-33 lead. Later in the quarter freshmanHalie Jonesknocked down a three-pointer to give UTRGV the 41-36 lead before UVU clawed back to tie it at 44-44 to end the third. 
 
UVU got a pair of free throws from Holland to open the fourth and they would not relinquish the lead. UTRGV got as close as 50-48 after a jumper from Templeton with 5:33 left to play but UVU was able to put the game away.  
 
The Vaqueros will back in action on Saturday when it faces Seattle U at 4 p.m.

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